In an exclusive interview on The Sentinel Report, esteemed political titan Ken Khachigian offered an insider scoop into his experiences with Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, discussing hot historical issues such as Watergate and the Cold War.
Throughout the interview, Khachigian, a veteran of nine presidential campaigns and former Nixon aid and chief speechwriter for Ronald Reagan, elaborated on why he believed the charges against Nixon during Watergate amounted to nothing short of a political witch hunt. He pinpoints that infamous June 23, 1972, “smoking gun” tape, which sunk Nixon, was “shooting blanks,” as everyone believed the tape contained conversations about covering up the Watergate break-in, when in reality, “it was the president suggesting that the CIA tell the FBI to back off, not on the Watergate investigation itself, but to back off from exposing two Democrat contributors to the campaign to reelect the president… We just totally misread that stupid tape,” Khachigian reflected.
Richard Nixon’s resignation marks a grave moment in history, and he shouldn’t have resigned, Khachigian shared, stressing that he believed that in 1974 and even still today. “The entire Watergate affair…was an entire partisan matter to get Nixon’s scalp… starting with the 40s when Nixon exposed the communist Alger Hiss.”
Khachigian’s advocacy for fighting through partisan bias rather than succumbing underscores his steadfast belief in Nixon’s capacity for effective governance. His newly penned book, “Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon,” promises to pull back the curtain, revealing insights into the legacies of two of America’s most significant leaders.
He praised Nixon’s decisive moves, echoing sentiments from Nixon’s own words regarding government control: Nixon’s vision was to decentralize government before it quashed American individualism, Khachigian stressed, reflecting on the thwarted potential of the Nixon presidency post-1972’s sweeping electoral victory. “In that second term, we could have made a great deal of changes… There was a purpose behind all the lawfare that was taking place by the Democrats to stop Nixon from doing what any Republican would want to do, and that is control government. Because at the end of the day, Democrats want one thing, and that’s power.”
Turning his gaze to Ronald Reagan, whom he served closely as chief speechwriter, Khachigian reflected on his most notable lines that he wrote for President Reagan. “He [Reagan] did use the line I came up with early in the campaign, ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ [And] I think that sealed the deal in the debate with Jimmy Carter.”
Turning back to his book, distinct anecdotes culled from his work illustrate the personal dynamic between these towering historical figures. “Behind Closed Doors” showcases rare interactions, strategic depths, and communication brilliance that went unseen in regular public discourse. This narrative serves not only as a historical testament but as a blueprint for future Republican leadership.
With the current political landscape as contentious as ever, Khachigian emphasizes the necessity for Republican strategists to heed the prudent, tested methodologies charted by Nixon and Reagan. “It’s a roadmap for Republicans… It has extremely good messages that are passed down from Nixon and Reagan about messaging, about strategy, about how to win campaigns, and about how to reach the American people in crisis moments,” asserting that the wisdom of the two former presidents could help win back the House, Senate, and presidency.